L. Rafael Reif, President of M.I.T., recently penned a robust defense of basic science funding:

President-elect Trump is calling for major reinvestment in public infrastructure—and any American can understand why. We all know from direct experience that much U.S. infrastructure is in rough condition, and most agree that renewing and advancing our infrastructure, from bridges and airports to the electrical grid, would support economic improvement and supply new jobs.

Read more: The Dividends of Funding Basic Science